A Slew of Tests

Some of this may be repetitive for my readers, but as you know, I’m an open book, so here’s another part of my journey!

Tomorrow we leave for a little trip to Ann Arbor, for a round of tests that I will be having. The first one is right when the sunrises at 7:30 Thursday morning, where I will be having a right heart catheterization. I’ve had one before, with the same doc, so I’m sure he will be surprised to see me back! He’s also a few of my other left heart caths, so it will be a joyous reunion (okay…maybe not). But at least I know him and I know he’s GREAT.

Then on Friday, I have 3 appointments, where I will be having an EVO2 test, which is basically an oxygen test/echo. I will walk on a treadmill, uphill, until I can go no longer. When I had one in May, I did it for as long as they needed, but I think this time it might be a bit more of a struggle. But maybe I will surprise myself and be able to do it the whole time, who knows! Then I will meet with my physician’s assistant, and then in the afternoon, with my electro-physiologist. I know that may all sound like gibberish, but here’s what they are hoping to accomplish:

Figure out if other parts of my heart are failing, outside of the extra PVCs and low ejection fraction (how well my heart is pumping). This will help determine what device to implant into my heart. So after I meet with the EP, we hope to have a definitive answer and I pray, get one the schedule. Our hope is that it’ll be fairly non-invasive, though I suppose that is a bit relative after having a few open hearts, but truly though, from what I understand, the options will be a whole lot easier than a surgery! Yes, they will have to implant something, but I’d only have to stay overnight for one night they believe.

Though ALL of this could change because my heart is just plain failing. It shows new findings constantly, which leaves the doctors completely puzzled. And it’s not their fault that we are still figuring out what to do – it’s just what God is allowing to happen in my body. He’s allowing it to show different things, opening our eyes to various issues, and until we can define exactly what is going on, you don’t want to add a device to your heart if it’s not going to work. This past week, I learned that I am retaining more fluid, am more tired, and my blood pressures are a bit lower again, so I called my nurse and she agreed, “Kristin, your heart is just failing.” And I know that sounds so depressing, but really though, we have not lost hope! There are things that can be done and we are hopeful that whatever they decide on, that it will work!

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As a Christ-follower, wife, stay at home mom, blogger, author, and advanced heart failure patient, my desire is to encourage others in those same roles, through honest and real conversation. May you be inspired to embrace YOUR story of God’s grace in your own life, through simple, grace-filled living.

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